Pakistan authorities demolish 70-yr-old mosque of minority Ahmadis

A 70-year-old worship place belonging to Pakistan's minority Ahmadis has been demolished by the authorities in Punjab province, the community members said on Monday.

Pakistan's Parliament in 1974 declared the Ahmadi community as non-Muslims. A decade later, they were banned from calling themselves Muslims. They are banned from preaching and even from travelling to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage.

Ahmadi community spokesperson Saleemduddin said the worship place, which has been destroyed, was located in Bahawalpur district's Hasilpur village, some 400 kms from here.

"The assistant commissioner of Hasilpur along with Baldia workers attacked the 70-year-old Ahmadi place of worship in Murad district and destroyed parts of the building without notice," Saleemduddin said in a tweet.

"It is important to note that this place of worship is built on property owned by the community... It has remained the same over past many many decades," he said.